Soil retaining wall for basement windows



April 13, 1943. R, E R.N E mL 2,316,712

SOIL RETAINING WALL FOR BASEMENT WINDOWS Filed May 1.7.1940

J/l'n TIM,

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Patented Apr. 13, 1943 SOIL RETAINING WALL FOR BASEMENT WINDOWS Richard E. Prince and John T. Edwards,

\ Columbus, Ohio Application. May 17, 1940, Serial No. 335,860 1 Claim. (Cl. 189-1) This invention relates generally to building construction and is more particularly directed to wall means for retaining soil in spaced relae tion from basement windows which extend below the ground level to provide for the entrance of light and air.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a wall member which may be attached to the exterior'surface of a building wall adjacent the side portions of a window opening to retain the soil in spaced relation from the window opening, the wall member being convenient to install and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object resides in providing a wall member which will be well adapted to hold back the soil and at the same time possess an ornamental appearance.

A still further object resides in the provision of anchor means through which a grill member forming a part of the wall means may be adjustably secured to the side wall of the building.

Another object resides in the provision of a modified form of grill which may be attached to the wall member with substantially permanent means which will prevent unauthorized or ready removal of the grill member and thereby serve to protect the windows from thieves or vandals.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an arcuate strip of sheet metal having flanges at its ends through which securing means may be extended to anchor the wall member to the building wall. The sheet metal also has a flange at its upper edge to which an ornamental grill may be secured. 7

Another object resides in, providing the grill member with a channel-shaped rail and forming anchor members for reception by the rail in order that they may be adjusted longitudinally thereof to adapt the rail to different installations.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which the invention has been illustrated in several preferred forms.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the side of a building provided with the wall member forming the subject of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the building wall and the soil retaining wall shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line .IV-'IV of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates the side wall' oi a building. In this instance, the sidewall has been illustrated as of frame construction with the usual clapboard design. Below the wall I, a foundation wall 2 has been provided which wall may be formed by poured concrete, pro-cast concrete block or any other suitable material.

In the wall 2, there is formed a window open-' ing 3 for the reception of a window frame 4 having a plurality of transparent panes 5 disposed therein, the panes being provided to permit light to pass through the window opening into the interior of the building. In the present instance, the window opening extends below the upper surface 6 of the ground adjacent the building. To

prevent the soil from falling through the window opening, a sheet metal body I has been provided, this wall having a semicircular horizontal cross section, the spaced ends of which engage the foundation 2 at the sides of the window opening. To secure the sheet metal body to the foundation,- the end portions of the body are bent at right angles to the adjacent portions to form flanges and perforations are provided therein for the reception of bolts employed to attach the body to the building wall.

By reason of the arcuate formation of the body 1, great strength is secured without necessitating the use of extra heavy sheet material and the soil will be supported without danger of collapsing the member I. To further strengthen this member, a plurality of ribs 9 are formed therein in vertically spaced order. Additional strength is gained by bending the upper edge of the body inwardly to provide a flange I0. When the basement wall is being formed, the soil retaining member I may be attached thereto and after the wall 2 has been completed, the soil may be filled around the wall when grading the building site. During the filling operation, soil will also be placed around the wall member 'I which will then provide a well in the earth through which light and air may have access to the Window opening.

To ornament the well, and prevent children or other persons from falling into the same, a grill designated generally by the numeral I I has been secured to the flange II]. The grill includes a lower rail I2 which is curved to fit the upper edge of the body I and is secured thereto by screws I3 passing upwardly through the flange I0 into the rail I2. A plurality of bars l4 extend upwardly from the lower rail I2 and have their upper ends members are then clamped to the rail It by tightening screws l6a which extend downwardly through the body and into clamp blocks lBb. These members lock the anchors to the rail, thus preventing relative movement between the rail and the building wall.

Whatpis claimed is: p

'An areaway unit for use in conjunction with a building wall comprising an arcuate sheet metal building wall, anchor members I! are attached to the wall I by wood screws 18. members are formed from wire looped as at I9 to These anchor receive the shank portion of the wood screw I8.

The ends of the wire extend upwardly and lat-- erally in spaced order and are disposed between the inner and outer surfaces of the bars I 4 and the inner surfaces of the channel flanges l5. By this construction, the spaced end portions of the anchor members may be adjusted longitudinally of the rails to engage the side of the wall I after which the screws I8 may be driven home to lock the anchors to the building. The anchor body extending below the ground level adjacent to the building wall, a flange at each end and the upper edge of said body, fastening means extending through the end'flanges and into the building Wall to secure the body thereto, a grill having an arcuate rail conforming to the arcuate shape of the flanged upper edge of said body,

* said rail being directly engaged with said flange,

fastening means securing said rail to the flange at the edge of said body, a second arcuate rail on said grill, loop-like anchor members. adjustably connected with the ends of said second rail, and securing means extending through said loop-like members and into said building wall.

RICHARD E. PRINCE.

JOHN T. EDWARDS. 

